Author: Dwight Clough

[The Lord Jesus Christ] gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God and Father … Galatians 1:4This is an interesting twist. Did you catch it? The verse doesn’t say that Jesus came to rescue us from a future in hell. Rather it says that He came to rescue us from the present evil age. We’ve had over 6,000 years to construct our paradise here on earth. How are we doing?People who aren’t in trouble don’t need to be rescued. But the Father sees where we are, and says, "You…

Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces with none to rescue. He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God. — Psalm 50:22-23I love the 50th Psalm. It is so reassuring to know that God is fully in command of the universe. It is so reassuring to know that He loves justice and He hates evil. Some day we each stand before God. The good and the bad. The fake and the authentic. The great and the small. That is the…

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. — Galatians 5:1Prisons come in many forms. Many people do the responsible thing because they know they must. They are trapped. Caught between their own evil desires and their sense of duty.Jesus came to make desire and duty one. He came to make us whole. He came so that we too could delight in doing the will of God, so that we could consider it our highest joy.God doesn’t want us to pretend to enjoy Him. He wants to get His hands on the reasons we don’t. Jesus came into…

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. — Matthew 24:36This is one of the most incredible passages in all of scripture. In some way that I cannot explain, the Father knows something that no one else in the universe knows. Not even the Son.As I was contemplating this passage today, a thought came to me, and I want to share it with you. The Father is preparing a gift for His Son and for His Son’s bride. The Father, who knows your mind and mine, who…

… let the afflicted hear and rejoice. — Psalm 34:2There are three kinds of trials. Those that bring us directly into the everlasting presence of God (martyrdom, death). Those where we experience God’s intervention immediately. And those where we have to wait.Sometimes all we know in a trial is pain; we can’t find God anywhere. Only later do we come back to those painful places and discover that God was there all along. From God’s point of view, He would never allow pain in our lives if it didn’t accomplish some good that we will both agree is far greater…

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." — Luke 7:50Why did Jesus say this? Why didn’t He say, "My love has saved you," or "My grace has saved you," or "My atoning sacrificial death on the cross will save you"?Clearly, without these things, she wouldn’t be saved. She would be forever an enemy of God. But Jesus calls attention not to these things, but rather to her faith.Several thoughts come into my mind. This may have been the first sincere compliment she had ever received. In the place of flattery that just wanted something…

When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. — Luke 7:37-38I don’t think this woman was stupid. I think she knew very well that she would be scorned by the Pharisee. She didn’t expect welcome, but something compelled her to break through the crowd, and risk being…

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. — Luke 6:32Jesus brought a life changing gospel to this earth. He fully expected the gospel to make such a profound change in our lives that no one could point to human effort to account for the difference. If you set good goals, work hard, and remain disciplined you will achieve what the pagans achieve. You will live an admirable life.But Jesus isn’t about creating admirable lives. He is about creating supernatural lives. What gives the gospel its power? The…

Jesus did not answer a word. — Matthew 15:23This is where some of us are. We cry out to Jesus, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And what is Jesus’ answer? Nothing. Nada. Not a word.Soon after, the ever-helpful disciples come along and suggest that the woman in this story be tossed into the scrap heap so the great ship of their comfort can sail forward on a clear sea.Again, some of us have been there. Laugh with me.What is going on? Why doesn’t Jesus answer? And when He does, why does He appear to push her aside?Read…

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" — Luke 5:8Simon Peter reflects what I suspect is in all of us — the kind of shame that says, "Lord, go away, and please don’t come back until I figure out some way to clean myself up."Running to God, rather than hiding from God, is counter-intuitive and has been ever since Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit. Yet this counter-intuitive choice is what God longs for and what the church and all humanity desperately need. Running…